Apparatus for adjusting a cigarette having variable smoking characteristics

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for adjusting a cigarette having a variable smoking characteristic to a preselected level of that characteristic is provided. A cigarette having a rotatable element for controlling a smoking characteristic, and assembled with a first level of that characteristic, is adjusted to a preselected second level by a drum and cooperating belt which engage the rotatable element and which move relatively faster and slower, or slower and faster, respectively, than a drum and belt holding the remainder of the cigarette.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the manufacture of cigarettes having variablesmoking characteristics, and particularly to apparatus for adjusting thedilution level of variable dilution cigarette after assembly.

It is known to produce variable dilution cigarettes having integralrotatable elements for controlling dilution. The rotatable element canbe a rotatable band of tipping paper retained by stationary bandsagainst axial displacement and having a slit overlying a slit in thefilter plug wrap with which it can be rotated into and out of registry.Alternatively, it can be a rotatable section of the filter plug,carrying with it a section of tipping paper extending over a stationarysection of the filter plug. The extending section of the tipping paperhas a slit which overlies a slit in the plug wrap on the stationaryfilter plug segment. The slits can be moved in and out of registry byrotating the rotatable filter segment. Such a cigarette is described incopending, commonly-assigned United States patent application Ser. No.429,392, filed Sept. 30, 1982, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,532,943, which ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

In the manufacture of these types of cigarettes, the slits on thetipping paper and plug wrap are most easily formed by simultaneouslyslitting both layers with a knife or laser beam. The cigarettes aretherefore assembled initially with the slits fully in registry and withtheir dilution levels therefore adjusted to maximum dilution. However,for marketing or other reasons, it may be desirable to adjust thecigarettes to a minimum or intermediate dilution level before they aresold.

It is also known to produce cigarettes in which other smokingcharacteristics, such as flavoring and resistance-to-draw, arecontrolled by the rotation of an integral rotatable element. It may bedesirable to adjust the position of the rotatable element in these typesof cigarettes as well.

It is known to run such cigarettes past a skid plate which frictionallycontacts the rotatable element to rotate it and break the perforationsholding it in a fixed rotational position relative to the remainder ofthe cigarette. However, this does not allow for controlled rotation ofthe rotatable element to a desired position, and also appliestranslational forces which may damage the cigarette.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide apparatus forrotating a rotatable element of a cigarette having a variable smokingcharacteristic by a controlled amount to a desired level of the variablesmoking characteristic.

It is a particular object of this invention to provide apparatus forrotating a rotatable element of a variable dilution cigarette by acontrolled amount to a desired dilution level.

In accordance with this invention, apparatus is provided for adjusting acigarette having a variable smoking characteristic, said cigarettehaving a tobacco rod, a filter plug, and a rotatable element associatedwith the filter plug for varying the smoking characteristic, whichcigarette is assembled with a first level of the smoking characteristic.The apparatus comprises means for holding the tobacco rod of thecigarette and means for torsionally engaging the rotatable element. Thetorsional engagement means rotates relative to the holding means forrotating the rotatable element a desired amount to adjust the level ofthe smoking characteristic to a second level. The apparatus can be partof a cigarette making machine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects and advantages of invention will be apparentafter consideration of the following detailed description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like referencecharacters represent like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a cigarette making machineaccording to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the smoking characteristicadjusting apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the smoking characteristicadjusting apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the first and second drums of the apparatus ofthe invention;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the smoking characteristic adjusting apparatusof the invention, taken from line 5--5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, partially exploded, perspective view taken fromthe mouth end of a cigarette with which the invention can be used;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal cross-section view of the cigarette of FIG. 6,taken from line 7--7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the filter plug of thecigarette of FIGS. 6 and 7;

FIG. 9 is a elevational view of an optional portion of the apparatus ofthe invention;

FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional view of a double filter plug used with theinvention;

FIG. 10 is a plan view taken from line 10--10 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an elevational view of another optional portion of theapparatus of the invention; and

FIG. 12 is an elevational view taken from line 12--12 of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The apparatus of the present invention can be used alone to adjust thedilution levels of cigarettes produced on separate cigarette makingmachines, or it can be incorporated as part of a cigarette makingmachine.

A preferred embodiment of a cigarette making machine 10 incorporatingthe apparatus of the invention is shown, partly schematically, inFIG. 1. In section 11 of apparatus 10, the tobacco rod is formed, and isjoined to a filter plug having a rotatable element by being overwrappedwith tipping paper. The tipping paper is divided into a section attachedto the rotatable element and extending over part of the nonrotatableportion of the filter plug, and at least one other section attached tothe remainder of the filter plug and to the tobacco rod. The extendingsection of tipping paper attached to the rotatable element, and theunderlying plug wrap, are simultaneously slit, preferably with a laser,producing a variable dilution cigarette adjusted to its maximum dilutionlevel. The completed cigarettes 12 are eventually carried onto transferdrum 13.

Transfer drum 13 transfers cigarettes 12 to the apparatus 14 of theinvention which adjusts the dilution level from maximum to the desiredlevel, as discussed in more detail below. The adjusted cigarettes arethen passed to transfer drum 15 and on for further processing--e.g.,packing.

Apparatus 14, shown in more detail in FIGS. 2-4, includes two concentricdrums 20, 21. Drum 20 has flutes 22 for receiving cigarettes 12, and isapproximately as wide as the length of the tobacco rod of a cigarette12. The filter portions of cigarettes 12 project from drum 20 and extendover drum 21.

The radius of drum 21 is smaller than that of drum 20 by an amount equalto the depth of flutes 22, so that the filter portions of cigarettes 12rest on the surface of drum 21 without cigarettes 12 bending. The widthof drum 21 and its spacing from drum 20 are chosen so that only therotatable element of the filter portion of each cigarette 12 contactsthe surface of drum 21.

A tension belt 23 runs on rollers 24, 25, 26 and follows the surface ofdrum 20. Tension belt 23 moves at the same speed as the peripheralsurface of drum 20 and holds cigarettes 12 firmly in flutes 22 whilepreventing their rotation. If desired, the surface of drum 20,particularly flutes 22, can be coated with an abrasive material or anyother material that will enhance the frictional engagement between drum20 and cigarettes 12.

A tension belt 30 runs on rollers 31, 32, 33 and follows the surface ofdrum 21. Drum 21 is coated with a nickel-diamond coating, or it can becoated with rubber or other friction enhancing material. Drum 21 isdriven so that its peripheral surface advances at a first speed in afirst direction relative to the peripheral surface of drum 20, but inthe same direction as seen by an observer. Belt 30 is driven to advanceat a corresponding speed in a second direction relative to theperipheral surface of drum 20 and is sized and placed to contact onlythe rotatable element of cigarette 12. Therefore, while the main body ofcigarette 12 is held against rotation by drum 20 and belt 23, oppositesides of the rotatable element of cigarette 12 are moved the same amountin opposite directions by drum 21 and belt 30. This results in a torqueabout the rotatable element, but no translational force on cigarette 12.Therefore, the rotatable element rotates, but cigarette 12 is not movedor bent. Drum 21 and belt 30 will always be driven in the same directionas drum 20 as seen by an observer. However, depending on thedirection--i.e., clockwise or counterclockwise--it is desired to rotatethe rotatable element, one of drum 21 and belt 30 will travel slowerthan drum 20 and the other will travel faster.

The degree of rotation of the rotatable element can be controlled bycontrolling either the relative speeds of drum 21 and belt 30 comparedto that of drum 20, or the length of time that the rotatable element isengaged by drum 21 and belt 30, or both. For example, either or both ofrollers 31 and 33 could be adjustably mounted to allow the path lengthover which the rotatable element is engaged to be varied. However, thepath length over which the rotatable element is engaged by drum 21 andbelt 30 should at most be coextensive with the path length over whichcigarette 12 is engaged by belt 23, if the main body of cigarette 12 isto be held while the rotatable element is rotated.

The desired degree of rotation of the rotatable element depends on thedesired dilution level and the parameters of cigarette 12. For example,if the slots in the rotatable element and the underlying plug wrap coverone quarter of the circumference of the cigarette, and it is desired tomove them completely out of registry, then, assuming a cigarette with acircumference of 25 mm, drum 21 should advance 6.25 mm less (or more),and belt 30 should advance 6.25 mm more (or less), than drum 20 and belt23 together advance during the time that the rotatable element ofcigarette 12 is engaged.

As is typical in cigarette making machines, vacuum can be applied toflutes 22, and to the flutes of the transfer drums 13 and 15, to holdcigarettes 12 on the drums, particularly where they are not being heldby belts 23 and 30. The vacuum applied to the various drums can bearranged to release a cigarette 12 from one drum as it approaches thenext drum, to which vacuum would than be applied to cause cigarette 12to pass to the next drum, in a known manner.

The type of cigarette described in said above-incorporated copending,commonly-assigned application, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,532,943, isillustrated in FIGS. 6-8. The cigarette 60 comprises a tobacco rod 61,that is, a charge of tobacco wrapped in cigarette paper, attached to anaxially aligned, wrapped cylindrical filter plug 62, and tipping paper63. The filter plug 62 has a mouth end and a rod end, both of which areopen to permit passage of air and smoke, and is divided into first andsecond segments 64, 65 by a circumferentially extending cut 66 whichdefines a central, axial core 80 about which the first segment 64 can berotated relative to the second segment 65. The tipping paper 63circumscribes and joins the filter plug 62 to the tobacco rod 61 inabutting end-to-end relation, and extends from substantially the mouthend of the filter plug 62, where it is fastened by adhesive band 72, toa point on the tobacco rod 61 adjacent the rod end of the filter plug62, where it is fastented to both segment 65 and tobacco rod 61 byadhesive band 73, and has a perforated break line 67 at a point betweenthe circumferential cut 66 and the tobacco rod 61, dividing it into twotipping paper sections 74, 75.

Two openings 68, 69 are made through the tipping paper 63 correspondingto two openings 70, 71 in the underlying portion of the filter plugwrap. When perforation line 67 is broken, tipping paper section 74 isfree to rotate with first segment 64 of the filter plug 62 about theaxis of central core 80, such that openings 68, 69 in the tipping paper63 and openings 70, 71 in the underlying portion of the plug wrap are invarying degrees of registry to permit varying amounts of air to enterthe filter and combine with the smoke, thereby varying the air dilutionvalue of the cigarette.

As described above, such cigarettes are assembled by providing a filterplug such as filter plug 81, shown in FIG. 8, and attaching it to atobacco rod 61 by overwrapping both plug 81 and rod 61 with a length oftipping paper 63 which has already been provided with perforated breakline 67. The tipping paper 67 is bonded by adhesive band 72 to the mouthend of filter plug 81 and by adhesive band 73 to the rod end of filterplug 81 and to the adjacent end of tobacco rod 61. A pair of slits ismade through both tipping paper 63 and the wrapping of filter plug 81 bya knife or laser beam, or other suitable means, simultaneously formingopenings 68 and 70 and openings 69 and 71, transforming filter plug 81into filter plug 62.

When segment 64 of filter plug 62 is rotated immediately after beingassembled as described above, the twisting of central axial core 80 willcause core 80 to tend to shorten. However, because the portions ofopposing filter plug segments 64, 65 radially outward of core 80 are indirect contact, core 80 cannot shorten. Instead, the fibers of core 80stretch or lengthen to maintain the same overall core length whiletwisted. Because of the stresses and strains involved, they may neverreturn to their original lengths. As a result, when segment 64 isrotated toward a more relaxed position of core 80, segment 64 may moveslightly away from segment 65. Therefore, even when openings 68, 69 and70, 71 are in rotational alignment, they may no longer be inlongitudinal alignment, and the functioning of the variable dilutionmechanism may be impaired.

Therefore, FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate means which can be provided inapparatus 10 to pre-stress central axial core 80 prior to the assemblyof the cigarette, so that after openings 68, 69 and 70, 71 are formed,they remain in longitudinal alignment even when segment 64 is rotated.Drum 90 receives plugs 81 from a hopper (not shown) into flutes 91 onthe surface thereof. In practice, double plugs 92, such as are shown inFIG. 9A, are used, for attachment to two tobacco rods. Filter plug 92 isthen severed down the middle to form two cigarettes. Plugs 92 arereceived in flutes 91 such that segments 93 at either end hang over theedges of drum 90. As drum 90 rotates (counterclockwise in the case ofthe drum illustrated in FIG. 9), plugs 92 contact cams 94 and block 95.Block 95 holds center section 96 of plug 92 against drum 90 while cams94 bend segments 93 outward from the drum axis to pre-stress centralaxial cores 80. Plugs 93 then contact cams 97 which bend segments 93 inthe other direction to complete the pre-stressing of cores 80. Plugs 93then continue through the cigarette making process. If desired, thepre-stressing operation can be carried out on separate apparatus and thepre-stressed plugs can then be loaded into apparatus 10.

Another situation which may arise in the assembly of the describedcigarettes is that if the material used for tipping paper 63 is tooheavy, perforated break lines 67 may be so strong that apparatus 14 willtwist the entire cigarette 60 instead of breaking the perforations androtating segment 64. In order to avoid this situation, a break plate 112can be provided adjacent drum 110 (about which cigarettes 60 are rolledby belt 111 in order to wrap tipping paper 63 around them). As shown inmore detail in FIGS. 11 and 12, break plate 112 has two dull projectionsor blades 113 which are aligned so that they press immediately adjacentthe pair of perforations 67 on each double cigarette which passes by.The surface 114 of the plate 112 is designed to provide sufficientfriction to keep cigarettes 92 rolling even though they are no longer incontact with belt 111, so that blades 113 can press on each perforatedline 67 about the entire circumference of cigarette 92. This results inthe breakage of perforations 67, or in sufficient weakening thereof, toallow apparatus 14 to rotate segments 64.

One skilled in the art will recognize that the inventive principlesdisclosed herein can be practiced by other than the embodiments shown,which are presented for the purposes of illustration and not oflimitation, and the present invention is limited only by the claim whichfollow.

What is claimed is:
 1. Apparatus for adjusting a cigarette having avariable smoking characteristic, said cigarette having a tobacco rod, afilter plug, and a rotatable element associated with said filter plugfor varying said smoking characteristic, said cigarette having beenassembled with a first level of said smoking characteristic on acigarette making machine, said apparatus comprising:means for holdingsaid tobacco rod of said cigarette, means for torsionally engaging saidrotatable element, said torsional engagement means moving relative tosaid holding means for rotating said rotatable element a desired amount,thereby adjusting said level of said smoking characteristic to a seconddilution level.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said smokingcharacteristic is the degree of dilution of said cigarette.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein said holding means comprises a firstrotating drum and a tension element adjacent at least a portion of theperipheral surface of said first rotating drum, said tension elementadvancing at the same speed as said peripheral surface, said cigarettebeing held between said tension element and said peripheral surface, theextent of said portion of said peripheral surface being determined bythe rotational speed of said first rotating drum and the desired amountof rotation of said rotatable element.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3wherein said tension element is a belt.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3wherein said first rotating drum has a plurality of flutes in saidperipheral surface thereof for holding a plurality of said cigarettes.6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a source of vacuum andmeans for applying said vacuum to each of said flutes for holding saidcigarettes in said flutes.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein saidtorsional engagement means comprises a first engagement means moving ina first direction relative to said holding means and a second engagementmeans moving in a second direction relative to said holding means. 8.The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said torsional engagement meanscomprises a first engagement means moving in a first direction relativeto said holding means and a second engagement means moving in a seconddirection relative to said holding means.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8wherein said first engagement means is a second rotating drum concentricwith said first rotating drum and having a frictional surface and saidsecond engagement means is a tension element.
 10. The apparatus of claim9 wherein said frictional surface is rubberized.
 11. The apparatus ofclaim 9 wherein said frictional surface is abrasive.
 12. The apparatusof claim 11 wherein said abrasive surface is nickel-diamond coated. 13.The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said tension element is a belt adjacenta portion of the peripheral surface of said second rotating drum at mostcoextensive with said portion of said peripheral surface of said firstrotating drum.
 14. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said first andsecond engagement means move at speeds which are equal and opposite withrespect to said holding means.
 15. In combination:the apparatus of claim1, and a cigarette making machine, said maching having a first transferdrum adjacent said holding means of said apparatus for transferringcigarettes to said holding means.
 16. The combination of claim 15wherein:said holding means comprises: a first rotating drum having aplurality of flutes in the peripheral surface thereof for holding aplurality of said cigarettes, a source of vacuum, means for applyingsaid vacuum to each of said flutes for holding said cigarettes in saidflutes, and a first tension belt adjacent at least a portion of theperipheral surface of said first rotating drum and advancing at the samespeed as said peripheral surface, said portion of said peripheralsurface being determined by the speed of said drum and the desiredamount of rotation of said rotatable element; said frictional engagementmeans comprises a second rotating drum concentric with said firstrotating drum and having a frictional surface rotating in a firstdirection relative to said first rotating drum and a second tension beltadjacent a portion of the peripheral surface of said second rotatingdrum at most coextensive with said portion of said peripheral surface ofsaid first rotating drum and moving parallel to said peripheral surfaceof said second rotating drum in a second direction relative to saidfirst rotating drum; and said peripheral surface of said second rotatingdrum and said second tension belt advance at speeds which are equal andopposite with respecte to said peripheral surface of said first rotatingdrum.
 17. The combination of claim 16 where said frictional surface isnickel-diamond coated.
 18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein saidrotatable element is a first segment of said filter plug, said firstsegment being rotatably connected to a second segment of said filterplug by a central axial core of filter tow material defined by acircumferential cut about said filter plug, said apparatus furthercomprising means for prestressing said central axial core before saidfilter plug is attached to a tobacco rod.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18wherein said pre-stressing means comprises:a second transfer drumlocated in a portion of said cigarette making machine ahead of theportion wherein said filter plug is attached to said tobacco rod; meansfor holding said second segment of said filter plug on said secondtransfer drum; and cam means adjacent said second transfer drum forbending said first segment away from the axis of said filter plug. 20.The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said frictional surface isnickel-diamond coated.
 21. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein saidrotatable element is a segment of said filter plug, said segment havinga section of tipping paper affixed thereto, said section being attachedto an adjacent section of tipping paper by a row of perforations, saidapparatus further comprising means for breaking said row ofperforations, thereby allowing rotation of said rotatable element. 22.The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said cigarette making machinecomprises a rolling drum which rotates at a first speed, said rollingdrum having a belt adjacent thereto moving at a second speed differentfrom said first speed such that cigarettes roll along the surface ofsaid rolling drum, between said belt and said surface, to wrap saidperforated tipping paper about said cigarettes, said apparatuscomprising a break plate adjacent said rolling drum for breaking saidrow of perforations.
 23. The apparatus of claims 22 wherein said breakplate comprises a frictional surface such that said cigarettes continueto roll while between said break plate and said rolling drum and a bladefor pressing on said row of perforations for breaking said perforations.24. A cigarette making machine comprising:means for assembling avariable dilution cigarette of the type having a tobacco rod, a filterplug, and a rotatable element associated with said filter plug forvarying said dilution level, said assembling means assembling saidcigarette with a first dilution level; a transfer drum for receivingcigarettes from said assembling means; a first rotating drum having aplurality of flutes in the peripheral surface thereof for receiving aplurality of said cigarettes from said transfer drum and holding thetobacco rods of said plurality of cigarettes; a source of vacuum; meansfor applying said vacuum to each of said flutes for holding said tobaccorods in said flutes; a first tension belt adjacent at least a portion ofsaid peripheral surface of said first rotating drum of advancing at thesame speed as said peripheral surface; a second rotating drum concentricwith said first rotating drum and having a frictional surface forengaging said rotatable elements, said second rotating drum rotatingrelative to said first rotating drum at a predetermined speed in a firstdirection; a second tension belt adjacent a portion of the peripheralsurface of said second rotating drum at most coextensive with saidportion of said peripheral surface of said first rotating drum, saidsecond tension belt engaging said rotatable elements and advancingrelative to said peripheral surface of said first rotating drum at saidpredetermined speed in a second direction opposite to said firstdirection; whereby said rotatable elements are rotated a preselectedamount to adjust said cigarettes to a desired second dilution level,said portions of said peripheral surfaces and said predetermined speedbeing selected such that said rotatable elements rotate saidpredetermined amount to achieve said desired second dilution level. 25.The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said frictional surface isnickel-diamond coated.
 26. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein saidrotatable element is a first segment of said filter plug, said firstsegment being rotatably connected to a second segment of said filterplug by a central axial core of filter tow material defined by acircumferential cut about said filter plug, said apparatus furthercomprising means for pre-stressing said central axial core before saidfilter plug is attached to a tobacco rod.
 27. The apparatus of claim 25wherein said pre-stressing means comprises:a second transfer drumlocated in a portion of said cigarette making machine ahead of theportion wherein said filter plug is attached to said tobacco rod; meansfor holding said second segment of said filter plug on said secondtransfer drum; and cam means adjacent said second transfer drum forbending said first segment away from the axis of said filter plug. 28.The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said rotatable element is a segment ofsaid filter plug, said segment having a section of tipping paper affixedthereto, said section being attached to an adjacent section of tippingpaper by a row of perforations, said apparatus further comprising meansfor breaking said row of perforations, thereby allowing rotation of saidrotatable element.
 29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said cigarettemaking machine comprises a rolling drum which rotates at a first speed,said rolling drum having a belt adjacent thereto moving at a secondspeed different from said first speed such that cigarettes roll alongthe surface of said rolling drum, between said belt and said surface, towrap said perforated tipping paper about said cigarettes, said apparatuscomprising a break plate adjacent said rolling drum for breaking saidrow of perforations.
 30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said breakplate comprises a frictional surface such that said cigarettes continueto roll while between said break plate and said rolling drum and a bladefor pressing on said row of perforations for breaking said perforations.31. Apparatus for pre-stressing the central axial core of a cigarettefilter plug, said cigarette filter plug being of the type having firstand second segments relatively rotatable about a central axial coredefined by a circumferential cut about said filter plug, said apparatuscomprising means for holding one of said segments of said filter plugand means for bending the other of said segments away from the axis ofsaid filter plug.
 32. The apparatus of claim 31 further comprising arotating drum, wherein said holding means holds said one of saidsegments on the surface of said rotating drum and wherein said bendingmeans comprises at least one cam means adjacent said rotating drum.